The province is improving access to electric vehicles (EVs) by increasing maximum rebate amounts and ensuring they go to the people who need them most.
“More and more people in British Columbia are looking to get an electric vehicle to save money on gas and reduce their carbon footprint,” said Bruce Ralston, Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation. “We’re improving our rebate program to make EVs more affordable and accessible to more families.”
The maximum provincial rebate under the CleanBC Go Electric Passenger Vehicle Rebate Program on the purchase or lease of a Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV), Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) and Long Range Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) is increased from $3,000 to $4,000. The maximum rebate for lower-end PHEVs increases from $1,500 to $2,000.
“We’re helping to make electric vehicles more accessible to more people in communities across the province,” said George Hayman, Minister for the Environment and Climate Change Strategy. “British Columbia is leading the way in electric vehicle adoption, thanks to CleanBC, and we’re expanding access so even more people can choose clean technologies that help avoid high gas prices, lower maintenance costs and to reduce climate pollution.”
To ensure EV rebates are available to people and families who need them most, rebate eligibility will be based on individual or household income levels:
- Individuals with annual incomes up to $80,000 (household incomes up to $125,000) will be eligible for the maximum rebate amounts of $2,000 for lower-end PHEVs or $4,000 for BEVs, FCEVs and PHEVs.
- Individuals with annual incomes between $80,001 and $100,000 (household incomes between $125,001 and $165,000) will be eligible for discounts ranging from $500 to $2,000, depending on income level and type of vehicle selected.
- Individuals with an annual income over $100,000 (household income over $165,000) will not be eligible for provincial EV rebates.
Based on 2020 income tax returns, more than 90% of BC residents are eligible for the provincial electric vehicle rebate. When combined with federal rebates, BC residents can save up to $9,000 on the purchase or lease of a new EV.
“British Columbia has achieved a leadership position in North American zero-emission vehicle sales thanks to a thoughtful approach by the government and partner agencies that includes rebates that make ownership as affordable as possible,” said Blair Qualey, president and CEO of New British Columbia Automobile Dealers Association. “The latest changes go a step further and ensure that those at the lower end of the income spectrum have a greater opportunity to purchase a clean energy vehicle – and that’s good news for the sector, for the government and, most importantly, for the environment .”
The province is also expanding the types of electric vehicles eligible for rebates. The price cap for determining eligibility for vehicle rebates remains at a maximum of $55,000 for compact and full-size cars. However, to help families and businesses requiring larger EVs, a second category has been added. For larger EVs coming to market, including minivans, sports cars and pickup trucks, the cap is set at a maximum retail price of $70,000.
This year, BC exempted electric vehicles from provincial sales tax, making buying an EV more affordable and providing more options.
CleanBC’s Go Electric EV Charger Rebate program offers provincial rebates that can cover up to 50% of the eligible cost of purchasing and installing EV charging stations for single-family homes, co-ops, apartments and workplaces.
Fast facts:
- People who typically drive approximately 15,000 kilometers per year can save about $2,000 in fuel costs per year by switching to an EV.
- British Columbia has seen significant growth in electric vehicle penetration from 5,000 light-duty electric vehicles registered in British Columbia in 2016 to more than 85,000 today.
- In the first quarter of 2022, electric vehicles accounted for 17% of new light-duty passenger vehicles sold in British Columbia, the highest electric vehicle adoption rate in North America.
- Over the past five years, the CleanBC Go Electric Vehicle Rebate program has helped more than 54,000 people across the province switch to clean energy EVs.
- In 2021, 18,533 EV rebates were issued.
- The province continues to make investments to expand the public EV charging network across British Columbia, and at the end of 2021 there were more than 3,100 public charging stations in British Columbia, compared to 781 in 2016.
Find out more:
For full details on the revised CleanBC Go Electric Passenger Vehicle Rebate program, including eligibility criteria and rebate amounts, and to apply for a rebate online, visit the new CleanBC Go Electric webpage at: https://goelectricbc. gov.bc.ca
For more information and tools to help you go electric on the road, visit BC Hydro’s electric vehicle website at:
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